Medication dispenser



April 12, 1966 R. s. TEMLIAK MEDICATION DISPENSER Filed Aug. 14, 1965 K F 2 WE r 4 A A D r 1 w III I! m ll pm United States Patent 3,245,589 MEDICATION DISPENSER Robert S. Temliak, 3220 Netherland Ave, Bronx, N.Y., assignor of one-fourth to E. Hofbauer', Queens, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 302,035 Claims. (Cl. 222-345) This invention relates to the field of dispensing apparatus, and has for its objective the creation of a dispenser, for pills, tablets and the like, which permits removal of its contents one unit at a time, while securing the balance of the contents from contamination, unsanitary exposure, accidental loss, etc. Because of its unique structure end operation it possesses the additional safety factor of deterring children of tender years from gaining access to the contents of the dispenser.

In recent years there has been an ever increasing development of new drugs and med-icaments for the treatment of human ailments, and these are prescribed in ever increasing numbers, usually in the form of solids, such as pills, tablets and capsulessometimes in powder form. Since these medicaments are generally taken orally, it is extremely important that they be maintained in a sterile condition, free from contamination by germs and bacteria. In the present state of the art it is not infrequently that a patient shakes a number of pills or tablets from the dispensing bottle into the palm of his hand, selects on or two, and dumps the remainder back into the bottle. Bacteria and germ-s from his hand go back into the bottle as well, to contaminate the remaining contents. Often, in such an operation, some of the pills or tablets fell to the table, or some other possible contaminated surface, and are then returned to the bottle, along with such germs and bacteria as may have been picked up from such surface.

It is the principal object of my invention, therefore, to provide a dispenser, for pills and the like, which per- 'rnits removal of it's contents one unit at a time, while protecting the balance of the contents from contamination, exposure or accidental loss.

A second important object of my invention lies in the provision of a dispenser, for pills and the like, of such construction as to effectively prevent children of tender years from gaining access to its contents, yet easily operable by an adult.

A third important object of my invention lies in the provision of a dispenser, for pills and the like, which permits removal of its contents one unit at a time by one familiar with its operation, even in the absence of light.

A fourth important object of my invention lies in the provision of a dispenser, for pills and the like, which can permit removal of its contents in specifically designated dosages.

Still another important object of my invention lies in the provision of a dispenser, of the type described, which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

These and other objects, advantages and functional features of my invention, together with the novel features of construction, composition and arrangement of parts, will be more readily apparent from an examination of the following description, taken with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged inverted View of the embodiment of FIG. 1, partly broken away to shown internal detail;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view, taken on lines 44 of FIG. 3;

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FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4, but showing rotation of the cap to permit discharge of a single pill;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view, taken on lines 6-6 of FIG. 4, partly broken away, to show a single pill in the discharge pocket;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view, taken on lines 7-7 of FIG. 5, to show isolation of a single pill in the discharge pocket; and

FIG. 8 is a view, similar to FIG. 7, but showing a modified structure.

Similar reference characters designate similiar parts throughout the different views.

Illustrative of the embodiment shown by FIGS. l-7, my dispenser 10 comprises a cylindrical container 12, adapted to contain a plurality of pills or tablets 141, and a rotatable cap .1 5. The dispenser 10 may .be made of any suitable material, such as plastic, glass, synthetic resin-s, and the like, since no particular material is critical for its operation. I prefer, however, to use a transparent plastic for the reason that it is easily made sterile, allows visibility of contents at all time, and has on adequate degree of resiliency.

The container 12 comprises a circular base 18 and a peripheral wall 24) extending upwardly therefrom and terminating in .a wide-mouth opening 22. A peripheral beveled lip 24 is provided externally around the opening 22. The cap '16 comprises a circular base 26 and a short peripheral wall 28 extending perpendicularly therefrom, the internal diameter of the wall 28 being slightly greater than the external diameter of wall 20 of the container 12, so that the cap 16 fits snugly but easily around the wall 20 of the container 12 when secured thereon. A peripheral groove 30 is formed in the inner surface of the wall 28 adjacent the base 26, so that when the cap .16 is forced down upon the container 12 the resiliency of the wall 28 will permit the lip 24 to enter the cap 16 unit it snaps into the groove 30 to lock for cap 16 to the container 12, the lip 24 thereafter acting as a bearing to perrm't ready rotation of the cap 16 relative to the container '12.

The cap 16 is provided internally with a solid cylindrical segment 32 concentrically secured to the base 26 and extending upwardly therefrom -a distance shorter than the height of the wall 28. The diameter of the segment 32 is smaller than the internal diameter of the wall 28, so as to define thereinbetween a circular passageway 34 adapted to receive the wall 20 of the container 12 when the cap 16 is attached to the container 12, the passageway 34 not being substantially wider than the thickness of the wall 20. The segment 3-2 is provided at its periphery with a cut-out or pocket 36, which opens into the passageway 34, and the wall 28 is provided with a window 38 adjacent to and in registry with the pocket 36, the pocket 36 being of an area to receive one of the pills 14, but not susbtantially greater and the window 38 being of a size to permit discharge of the pill 14 therethrough from the pocket 36.

The container 12 is provided with a block member 40 integral with its inner wall 21) and extending perpendicularly therefrom, disposed in the wall 18 so that its base surface 42 is flush with the upper surface of the segment 32 when the cap 16 is locked to the container 12, yet easily slidable with respect thereto. The block member 41) is substantially of the same size as the pocket 36 in the segment 32, and is extended on either side with an integral apron 44, which is provided with a thin outer edge 46, and whose lower surface is on a plane with the base surface 42 of the block member 411 and whose upper surface is slanted toward the block member 40 to form a rise or ramp 48, as shown in FIG. 3. An opening or window 54) is provided in the wall 2% between the block member 411 and the opening 22, the window 50 being of the same size as the window 38 in the cap 16, and disposed to come in registry with the window 38 when the cap 16 is rotated so that the pocket 36 faces the window 50, whereby a pill 14, entrapped in the pocket 36, may be discharged from the container 12 through the respective windows 38 and 50, when they are properly aligned.

In the operation of my dispenser 10, the container 12 is first filled with the prescribed quantity of pills 14, and

the cap 16 is then locked to the container 12, the cap 16 being rotated so that the window 50 is not aligned aligned directly above the pocket 36. By thisoperation the apron 44 sweeps the remaining pills 14 away from the area of the pocket 36, so that only the entrapped pill 14 is in discharge position, and the windows 38 and 50 come in registry with each other so that the entrapped pill 14 can be discharged from the container 12. Where more than one pill 14 is to betaken at one time the operation is repeated until the requisite number of pills 14 are discharged. The cap 16 is then rotated until the windows 38 and 50 are no longer aligned, and the dispenser returned to the medicine cabinet in upright position.

It can thus be readily seen that my dispenser 10 effectively prevents removal of more than one unit or pill at a time, thus securing the remainder from contamination, unsanitary exposure, accidental loss, et. Because of its unique structure it also provides a safety factor in preventing young children unfamiliar with its operation from gaining access to its contents and thereby harming themselves by swollowing same. It is also equally apparent that my dispenser can be operated even in the absence of light, since no more than one pill can be discharged at a time, and such pill can be obtained by a single cap rotation in inverted position of the dispenser.

As is obvious, different dispensers can be produced to accommodate different sizes of pills, tablets, capsules and the like, by making the pocket 36 and the windows 38 and 50 of a size to receive and discharge a single unit of the particular pill, tablet or capsule, or even to receive and discharge two at a time, if such is the required dosage.

In FIG. 8 there is shown a modified embodiment of the cap 16, showing a wedge-shaped pocket 36 instead of the circular pocket 36 in the prior embodiment. The pocket'36 may be of any shape or configuration desired, so long as it is capable of receiving only a single unit of the contents, or, as referred to above, a required dosage of units.

While I have thus far described my invention in connection with the retention and discharge of pills, tablets and other solid forms of medications, it is to be fully understood that my invention is not restricted to contents of such nature. It may also be applied for measured dosages of medical powders and granules intended to be dissolved in water or other liquids before being taken. For example, frequently, powders are medically prescribed and are made up in papers, or sleeves, each paper or sleeve representing a prescribed dosage. In opening the papers the patient often accidentally spills or Wastes part of the contents. With my dispenser 10 the pocket 36 can be constructed of such an area as to contain an exact powder or granule dosage, so that the container 12 can be filled with'the prescribed powder or granules and single dosages dispensed therefrom in the same manner as the pills heretofore described.

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The embodiments thus shown and described, therefore, are by way of illustration and not of limitation, and various changes may be made in the construction, composition and arrangement of parts without limitation upon or departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof inherent therein, all of which are claimed.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A medication dispenser comprising an open-mouth cylindrical container adapted to contain medicaments and a circular cap,

means to lock the cap to the container for rotational movement thereon,

the cap provided internally with a solid cylindrical segment disposed concentric with its peripheral wall and spaced therefrom to define a circular passageway thereinbetween adapted to receive the peripheral wall of the container,

a pocket provided 'in the segment and opening into the passageway,

a window in the peripheral wall of the cap in registry with the pocket,

a block member integral with the peripheral wall of the container and extending perpendicularly therefrom,

the block member being of a size suflicient to completely cover the pocket when superposed thereover, but not substantially greater, disposed so that one of its surfaces is contiguous with the-surface of the segment and adapted to sweep the segment surface on rotation of the cap, and 'a window in the peripheral wall of the container between the block member and the container opening adapted to come in registry with the cap window on rotation of the cap whereby the medicament entrapped in the pocket is disc'hargeable through the registered windows while the block member bars the remaining content-s of the container from entry into the pocket.

2. A medication dispenser comprising an open-mouth cylindrical container adapted to contain pills or tablets and a circular cap,

means to lock the cap to the container for rotational movement thereon,

the cap provided internally with a solid cylindrical segment disposed concentric with its peripheral wall and spaced therefrom to define a circular passageway thereinbetween to receive the peripheral wall of the container,

a pocket provided in the segment, opening into the passageway and adapted to accommodate a single pill or tablet,

a window in the peripheral wall of the cap in registry with the pocket,

a block member integral With the peripheral Wall of the container and extending perpendicularly therefrom, V

the block member being of a size sufficient to completely cover the pocket when superposed thereover, but not substantially greater, disposed so that one of its surfaces is contiguous with the surface of the segment and adapted to sweep the segment surface on rotation of the cap, and a Window in the peripheral wall of the container between the block member and the container opening adapted to come in registry with the cap Window on rotation of the cap whereby the pill or tablet entrapped in the pocket is dischargeable through the registered windows while the block member bars the remaining contents of the container from entry into the pocket.

3. A medication dispenser comprising an open-mouth cylindrical container adapted to contain granules or powder and a circular cap,

means to lock the cap to the container for IQi'dl movement thereon,

the cap provided internally with a solid cylindrical segment disposed concentric with its peripheral wall and spaced therefrom to define a circular passageway thereinbetween adapted to receive the peripheral wall of the container,

a pocket provided in the segment, opening into the passageway and adapted to accommodate a predetermined quantity of granules or powder,

a window in the peripheral wall of the cap in registry with the pocket,

2. block member integral with the peripheral wall of the container and extending perpendicularly therefrom,

the block member being of a size sufficient to completely cover the pocket when superposed thereover, but not substantially greater, disposed so that one of its surfaces is contiguous with the surface of the segment and adapted -to sweep the segment surface on rotation of the cap, and a window in the peripheral wall of the container between the block member and the container opening adapted to come in registry with the cap window on rotation of the cap whereby the granules or powder entrapped in the pocket is dischargeable through the registered windows while the block member bars the remaining contents of the container from entry into the pocket.

4. A medication dispenser as claimed in claim 1, the locking and rotative means comprising a beveled lip provided around the periphery of the container opening and a circular groove journaled in the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the cap adjacent its base.

5. A medication dispenser as described in claim 1, the block member being further provided with aprons extending from each side thereof, the surfaces of the aprons contiguous to the cap segment being on the same plane as the contiguous block member surface.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,227,167 12/1940 Warren 221-265 2,580,096 12/ 1951 Holt et a1 222-3 67 X 2,633,273 3/1953 Benjamin et a1 222363 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,098,150 3/1955 France.

LOUIS I. DEMBO, Primary Examiner. 

1. A MEDICATION DISPENSER COMPRISING AN OPEN-MOUTH CYLINDRICAL CONTAINER ADAPTED TO CONTAIN MEDICAMENTS AND A CIRCULAR CAP, MEANS TO LOCK THE CAP TO THE CONTAINER FOR ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT THEREON, THE CAP PROVIDED INTERNALLY WITH A SOLID CYLINDRICAL SEGMENT DISPOSED CONCENTRIC WITH ITS PERIPHERAL WALL AND SPACED THEREFROM TO DEFINE A CIRCULAR PASSAGEWAY THEREINBETWEEN ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE PERIPHERAL WALL OF THE CONTAINER, A POCKET PROVIDED IN THE SEGMENT AND OPENING INTO THE PASSAGEWAY, A WINDOW IN THE PERIPHERAL WALL OF THE CAP IN REGISTRY WITH THE POCKET, A BLOCK MEMBER INTEGRAL WITH THE PERIPHERAL WALL OF THE CONTAINER AND EXTENDING PERIPENDICULARLY THEREFROM, THE BLOCK MEMBER BEING OF A SIZE SUFFICIENT TO COMPLATELY COVER THE POCKET WHEN SUPERPOSED THEREOVER, BUT NOT SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER, DISPOSED SO THAT ONE 